Volume One, Chapter 33: Lover

In an instant, all the questions found their answers.

Awareness dawned on the crowd, mingled with shock.

All except for Jiang Wan, who stood motionless where she was.

Her head remained bowed, as though she were a shell whose soul had slipped away.

No light shone in her eyes any longer.

Her entire being seemed drained of life.

Everything that had just transpired in the banquet hall appeared to have nothing to do with her.

Her lashes were lowered, the tangled fringe casting shadows across the fleeting reflections in her sight.

The dark blue tie he wore was unremarkable to others, yet to her, it was blindingly conspicuous.

So this was how he explained things to Lin Zhi.

He cast her into the storm’s eye and withdrew unscathed, preserving his own safety.

Jiang Wan’s lips curled in a self-mocking smile.

She never uttered a word throughout, nor spared them so much as a glance.

Disheveled hair veiled half her face.

No one could see her expression.

The atmosphere in the hall grew oppressively heavy.

Even breathing felt like a luxury.

Not until Lin Hongguang finally broke through the crowd and stepped forward to smooth things over.

“Master Lu, forgive us for not coming out to greet you sooner…”

He approached with a smile, attempting to ease the awkwardness.

But his outstretched hand, sensing Lu Wenzhou’s chilly gaze, faltered and withdrew, and he turned instead to rebuke Lin Luoyao.

“Luoyao, why are you still standing there?” His tone admitted no argument. “Hurry and apologize to Master Lu. After causing such a mess, do you have a death wish?”

His warning gaze, combined with the tension in the air, was enough to terrify Lin Luoyao out of her wits.

Her face went deathly pale, tears welling uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, I was talking nonsense—I spoke without knowing the truth. It’s just that this woman is so good at seducing people that she misled me, so I…”

She reached out, pointing at Jiang Wan, still trying to shift the blame onto her.

But she had barely begun when Lu Wenzhou’s gaze sliced through her words.

His eyes were as sharp as blades, silencing her as if cutting her throat.

The taste of blood rose in her mouth, and she could not say another word.

“Would you care to repeat that?”

Lu Wenzhou’s voice was icy, as though he had just returned from hell.

Every syllable dripped with murderous intent.

Lin Luoyao was struck dumb, and the rest of the guests began to whisper among themselves.

“This second Miss Lin really is reckless, isn’t she? Did she forget who the young master from the capital is, and his ties to the Gu family? Even if the families are distant relatives, slandering like that is out of line…”

“She’s really outdone herself this time—so foolish.”

Hearing their comments, Lin Luoyao realized she had made another blunder.

Tears streamed down her face in torrents as she sobbed, “I was wrong, I spread those rumors, I’ll never speak carelessly again, please, please forgive me…”

Her voice trembled like a sieve.

Her public disgrace made her look even more ludicrous than a clown.

Yet Jiang Wan remained rooted to the spot, not sparing anyone a glance.

Her silence only deepened the suffocating atmosphere.

Not until—

Lin Zhi approached her, took her hand, and led her out.

“Jiang Wan, come with me.”

She eased the tension, guiding Jiang Wan out of the hall.

They entered a small parlor on the same floor, where Lin Zhi settled her into a seat and promptly summoned someone to bring supplies.

Wrapping ice in a towel, Lin Zhi gently pressed it to the bruised side of Jiang Wan’s face.

The chill seeped through the towel, a stark contrast to her burning skin.

One sat higher, one lower.

Though similar in temperament and figure, their auras were utterly distinct.

If Jiang Wan was a dazzling red rose, then Lin Zhi was an aloof, noble white rose.

Lin Zhi remained silent throughout, tending quietly to Jiang Wan’s bruises.

They had been “stepsisters” for five years.

Yet this was their first time alone together.

And under such circumstances, of all things.

Jiang Wan could only find it ironic.

“Has the Jiang Group considered competing for the King’s Land design project?”

The hush was finally broken by Lin Zhi’s unexpected question.

Jiang Wan looked at her in surprise.

Lin Zhi kept her gaze lowered, focused on applying the ice to Jiang Wan’s cheek.

Their eyes never met.

But Jiang Wan could sense that Lin Zhi was attuned to her every emotional shift.

Was this deliberate bait?

The Lin Group already had its own design department. Even if they outsourced the project, with the prestige of the King’s Land, countless design firms would leap at the chance, begging the Lin Group for an opportunity.

Where would the Jiang Group fit into this?

Jiang Wan stayed silent, but her thoughts were clear enough for Lin Zhi to read.

“All good things must be fought for,” Lin Zhi said. “The winner takes all—that’s an unchanging truth.”

Her tone was calm but resolute.

Jiang Wan was still puzzled when Lin Zhi looked up at her.

She had those signature fox-like eyes—slightly upturned at the corners, deep and mysterious.

There was an enigmatic allure to her.

In the depths of her pupils, Jiang Wan caught sight of her own reflection.

Their gazes locked, and Lin Zhi asked quietly, “The lipstick mark on the shirt—was it yours?”

The coldness against her cheek shot straight to Jiang Wan’s heart.

It stopped beating; she even forgot to breathe.

Her pupils contracted uncontrollably, her emotions choked in her throat.

Lin Zhi stood over her, looking down with a commanding presence.

Through those detached eyes, Jiang Wan could tell Lin Zhi already knew the answer.

Yet she still asked directly, wanting her to admit it herself.

Jiang Wan’s throat felt parched.

The silence in the room made the air thin.

But before Jiang Wan could speak, Lin Zhi withdrew her gaze and set aside the ice pack.

“Best if it isn’t,” she said, placing the towel on the side. “Otherwise, things will be much messier to resolve.”

Jiang Wan had no idea what kind of “resolving” Lin Zhi meant.

She didn’t explain, nor did she pursue the matter.

“Shall I have someone drive you home?” Her voice was chilly, sounding like a question but leaving no room for argument.

It was a clear dismissal.

“No need, I’ll go myself.” Jiang Wan forced a smile.

Yet even the movement of her facial muscles and her cracked lips brought sharp pain.

Jiang Wan took the elevator to the underground parking lot.

When he saw her, the driver got out to open the door for her.

Upon hearing that Jiang Wan wished to leave early, the driver inclined his head respectfully. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, madam.”

“Mr. Gu instructed that to protect the family’s reputation, whoever arrives together at a banquet must also depart together.”

“It’s a family rule.”

Jiang Wan found it bitterly ironic, but she saw no need to make things difficult for a mere employee.

She slipped into the third row of the business van in silence.

Unable to leave early, she could only wait for the banquet to end.

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall—

Once the identity of the capital’s young master was revealed, Lu Wenzhou’s presence became the focus of the entire event.

Not only the guests, but even Lin Hongguang tried to curry favor with him.

Lu Wenzhou was born with an aura that drew all attention.

Wherever he went, he was the center.

Everyone sought an opportunity to strike up a conversation, eager to be noticed.

But he was too aloof for anyone to get more than two words from him.

The guests were left frustrated, yet helpless, and drifted away in defeat.

The three members of the Gu family, watching closely, seized the opportunity and hurried over to speak with Lu Wenzhou.

“Cousin…”

Yan Yan had barely begun when a cold, piercing gaze shot toward her like a blade.